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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senate bill seeks to require seat belts in all school buses

Senate bill seeks to require seat belts in all school buses

Published Mar 7, 2025 07:43 am

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has filed a bill that requires all school buses to be equipped with seat belts, including lap safety belts, to protect students from injury in case of accidents.

jinggoy estrada.jpg
Senate Presdient Pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada

“The safety and security of our students are not just priorities but are foundational to our national progress. By ensuring that our students are protected during their daily commute, we are investing in the future of our nation,” Estrada said in his filed Senate Bill No. 2958, or the proposed “School Bus Safety Act.”

In pushing for the measure, the veteran lawmaker highlighted a Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report showing a 39 percent increase in road traffic fatalities from 2011 to 2021, rising from 7,938 deaths in 2011 to 11,096 in 2021.

“The lack of regulated safety standards for school buses and drivers expose students to unnecessary risks, jeopardizing their well-being,” the senator said.

Estrada said SB 2958 not only prescribes regulations requiring driver seat belts and passenger seat belts for all passengers in school buses, but also seeks to strengthen school transportation safety by requiring driver training and compliance with modern safety standards.

Under the proposed bill, school buses cannot be registered without the required seat belts.

Estrada said the Department of Transportation (DOTr), which shall be the primary agency responsible for implementing the proposed measure, shall prescribe regulations requiring driver and passenger seat belts in newly manufactured school buses, including lap belts or child safety devices that meet safety standards, within one year of the enactment of the bill.

Owners of school buses without seat belts will have six months from the publication of the regulations to install them.

On top of these, the DOTr shall also run a program to promote seat belt use in school buses, encourage local governments to monitor seat belt usage in school buses, and create and share educational materials on the importance of using seat belts to passengers and drivers of school buses.

Estrada said the DOTr shall also give due recognition to schools with high level of seat belt usage by passengers and drivers of school buses.

“This bill makes safety a top priority, holds transport providers accountable, and aligns with global road safety standards. Sa lahat ng pagkakataon, nais nating mga magulang na matiyak at maipagkakatiwala natin ang kaligtasan ng ating mga anak sa ganitong uri ng transportation services,” he said. 

Related Tags

Department of Transportation (DOTr) School Bus Safety Act Senator Jinggoy Estrada
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